We must reach our youth since 50% of the victims of human trafficking are under the age of 18 and the average is 12. South Florida has the highest percentage rate of reported activity in Florida and Florida is the third highest in the United States.
PRLog - Jul. 9, 2014 - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Trafficking In America Task Force (TIATF) will host its 4th National Conference on Human Trafficking in West Palm Beach, FL at the Airport Hilton, July 16th to 18th. A special youth event for teens age 12 to 18 (young adults invited as well) has been planned for this at-risk age group on Thursday, July 17th from 5:00 – 8:30 PM. Speakers and performers will show boys and girls how traffickers work to manipulate and entrap them by preying on emotions that are a natural part of growing up. Such tactics include boyfriending and girlfriending, drugging at parties, lying on social media about who they are; and offerings for dream jobs such as modeling, acting, sports contracts, etc. There is no charge for youth to attend this event and parents may accompany them.
Yvonne Williams, conference coordinator said, “We’ve had some youth attend our previous 3 events with their parents and guardians but not as many as I would like to see. So, this year, we have crafted an event just for them with speakers and creative performances that will speak to their age group. And, since the average age of a victim of human trafficking is 12 – 14, it is only fitting that we include them in the educational process.”
The event will kick off at 5:00 PM with a special V.I.P. Meet and Greet reception giving attendees an opportunity to meet Michaela Paige, Singer/Songwriter, Visionary, and Philanthropist. Michaela was a top 12 finalist on Team Blake for Season 3 of NBC's The Voice! Michaela is lending her voice to the cause of human trafficking to help prevent her peers and other youth from becoming victimized. She is host and guest of several live radio programs on a regular basis such as “Off Topic” on Tuesday nights at 9 P.M. ET on W4WN.com; F.M.L. Tuesday nights at 7 P.M; ET on W4CY.com; and Pursue Your Passion, Tuesday nights at 8 P.M. ET on W4CY.com!.
At 6:00 PM the event will begin with Danielle Madsen, local Christian speaker and entertainer who will serve as Master of Ceremonies and open the event. Danielle’s background in media and entertainment includes inspirational speaking, performing in various children’s ministry settings, and radio broadcasting.
The agenda for the event includes presenters Michelle Ryder, National Program Manager for TIATF’s I Promise To Do My Part Youth Campaign; Korena Johnson, a student from Rhode Island who attended the conference last with some of her peers and accompanied by one of their teachers; Nola Theiss, Executive Director and Founder of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships who will present the organizations ARTReach program. A 20 minute short film titled, Chosen, produced by Shared Hope International, will be shown as a youth prevention resource, along with some creative dance that depicts a portrayal of the issue.
For more information and to register for the Empower Me 2014 Youth Event please visit www.traffickinginamericaconference.info/youth-event/
About the Trafficking in America Task Force
Trafficking in America Task Force is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization and has been working since 2004 to educate the American population about the reality of the sale of American women, men, and children into sexual slavery for the profit and pleasure of their perpetrators, and that the forced labor trafficking of both adults and children is real in this country. Our Vision is to help eliminate the human trafficking of women, men and minor children in America, and to provide a culture for our children free of sexual exploitation and slavery, where people know and own their own intrinsic value.
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Human Trafficking Education Event for Youth July 16-18, 2014
July 09, 2014 at 10:36 AM EDT
